Strawberry plant named `MNUS 248`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Junebearing strawberry plant named MNUS 248 combines the characteristics of midseason ripening, high productivity or yield, excellent survival in cold temperatures, resistance to red stele root rot, and moderate resistance to common foliar diseases. MNUS 248 yields strawberries characterized by a flavor that is balanced between sweetness and acidity, a glossy appearance, a firm flesh with a melting, creamy texture in the mouth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

MNUS 248 is a Junebearing or short-day strawberry variety (Fragaria×ananassa) that is notable for its combination of traits that include a midseason ripening period; high productivity or yield; excellent survival in cold temperatures; resistance to five Eastern North American races of Phytophthora fragariae Hickman, the causal organism of red stele root rot; moderate resistance to common foliar diseases such as leaf spot, powdery mildew and leaf scorch; and a fruit with a smooth, creamy texture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs are typical specimens of the plants of the variety and the fruit thereof as depicted in color. The plants and fruit illustrated were grown at the University of Minnesota West Central Experiment Station at Morris, Minn. in July 1995. References to color relate to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1996 edition, noted herein as R.H.S. except for color terms of ordinary dictionary meaning which may occasionally be referred to.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a row of plants of the variety showing the typical growth habit behind a tray of typical fruit as harvested.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a cluster of fruit of the variety showing several stages of maturity.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a cluster of fruit of the variety showing mostly fully ripened fruit.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of several sliced ripe fruit showing the internal coloring of the fruit.

Following is a detailed description or specification of the present variety.

Origin of the Variety

MNUS 248 is a result of a cross between Glooscap and an unnamed seedling designed MNUS 99, made in a controlled breeding program in 1986 at Beltsville, Md. MNUS 248 was discovered and selected at the University of Minnesota North Central Experiment Station at Grand Rapids, Minn. in 1988. The variety has been stable and uniform through propagation by stolons and by in vitro micropropagation from stolon meristems. Off-types, variants, and mutations have not been observed. MNUS 248 was propagated by stolons for later observation in trails at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center near Excelsior, Minn. and the North Central Experiment Station at Grand Rapids, Minn. from 1989 to 1990, and at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Md. in 1991 and in 1996.

MNUS 248 was evaluated in replicated yield trials from 1992 through 1996 at The Horticultural Research Center, the North Central Experiment Station, and the West Central Experiment Station at Morris, Minn. (Tables 1 through 12). At each site, plantings were estabished in 1991, 1993 and 1995 and harvested for one or two subsequent seasons. MNUS 248 and other common cultivars of the midwestern U.S. and eastern Canada were planted in a randomized complete block design. Plants were spaced 0.45 m apart within rows that were 1.2 m apart and 4 m long. The plants were permitted to form a matted row that was approximately 0.4 m wide. At Grand Rapids, a split plot design was employed on 7 m long plots which were split with half of the plot being mulched for protection during the winter and the other half receiving no mulch. All plots were irrigated, fertilized, and sprayed with fungicide and insecticide as needed in accordance with standard commercial recommendations.

Detailed Description of the Variety

Fruit: The fruit of MNUS 248 matures in the middle part of the fruiting season for short day varieties. The fruit matures approximately at the same time as fruit of the cultivars Glooscap, Kent, Cavendish, and Jewel which are commonly grown in Minnesota (Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4). Compared to these varieties, the berries of MNUS 248 generally have been similar in size to those of Glooscap and Kent and smaller than those of Cavendish and Jewel (as measured by average berry weight; Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4). Subjective comparisons of the fruit characteristics of MNUS 248 with other adapted varieties are presented in Tables 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The flavor is well balanced between sugars and acids with a characteristic strawberry aroma. The flesh is moderately firm with a consistent, creamy, melting mouthfeel. The skin is of medium toughness but tends to become weak in hot weather. The fruit of MNUS 248 have a glossy skin with slightly uneven deep crimson skin color corresponding to R.H.S. Colour Chart plate 53A in lighter areas and 185A in darker areas. The skin does not tend to darken as much as Glooscap. The flesh color is fairly uniform dark red through the fruit and corresponds to R.H.S. Colour Chart plate 34A except for a whitish vascular cylinder. The surface of the fruit is smooth to slightly uneven. The shape is blunt-wedge or blunt-conic with large shoulders on primary berries to blunt-conic on the secondary and tertiary berries. The berries are equaal in length and width to slightly longer than broad. The peduncle is medium to long in length and prostrate by the time of the first harvest. The calyx is equal in diameter to the fruit, showy, inserted in a shallow basin, and clasping to partially reflexed. Sepals are borne in two whorls with the inner whorl being elliptic with sharp points, and the outer whorl being narrow lanceolate with rounded tips. The achenes are yellow and below the surface of the fruit and are absent from only a narrow band at the calyx end of the fruit.

Flowers: The inflorescence is usually slightly below or level with the foliage when the flowers are open. The flower size is medium. The diameter of the calyx is similar to or larger than the diameter of the corolla. The diameter of the inner calyx is similar to the diameter of the outer calyx. Secondary flowers have five petals which tend to be greater in breadth than in length and these are free or touching but usualy not greatly overlapping one another. The color of the petal corresponds to plate 155C of The R.H.S. Colour Chart.

Plants: Plants of MNUS 248 have crowns that are medium in height with many petioles and usually form a matted row of high plant density and flat to flat-globose habit. Stolons are thin and green proximal to the mother plant and, distally, take on a slight red anthocyann coloration. Stolons may have bracts at the blind nodes. Pubescence on the stolons is sparse to moderate in density and spreading.

Leaves: The leaves have medium to short petioles giving the appearance of a flat-globose to globose canopy. Pubescence on the petioles is sparse and spreading (divaricate). Petiolules may be present on the petiole. The leaves have three leaflets with medium roughness from interveinal blisters and sparse pubescence on the adaxial side of the leaflets, primarily on top of veins. Leaflets are equal in size, broadly elliptic, sparsely pubescent, medium green on top, light green on the bottom with prominent veins. The leaflets of MNUS 248 have a slight waxy bloom on the upper side giving a slightly bluish-green cast. The color of the terminal leaflet corresponds to R.H.S. Colour Chart 146A on the upper side and 147C on the lower side. The terminal leflet is equal in length and width, has a flat to cupped profile, a rounded base, and single teeth that are obtuse on older leaves. Stipules are small to medium in size and pointed.

Fruiting: Results are pesented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 from replicated trials conducted at three Uniersity of Minnesota experiment station sites in Minnesota: The Horticultural Research Center near Excelsior, the North Central Experiment Station at Grand Rapids, and the West Central Experiment Station at Morris. MNUS 248 has generally produced high yields and medium-large berries in trils in Minnesota. The fruit matures in the middle part of the season for short-day cultivars, approximately at the same time as its parent, Glooscap, and other common midseason cultivars grown in Minnesota such as Kent, Jewel and Cavendish. In all trials in Minnesota, MNUS 248 consistently had yields similar to or greater than these other mid-season varieties. Glooscap, a parent of MNUS 248, is currently to most widely planted midseason cultivar among commercial Minnesota producers. MNUS 248 had a higher yield than Glooscap in 16 of 19 trials and a greater average berry weight in 17 of 19 trials. MNUS 248 has been productive on soils of heavy and light texture in matted row production systems. It has had limited testing in hill systems.

Responses to diseases and stresses: Relative to other cultivars tested in Minnesota, MNUS 248 has moderate resistance to the common foliar diseases, leaf spot (Mycosphaerella fragariae Tul.) and powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis Walls ex Fr.) and moderate to high resistance to leaf scorch (Diplocarpon earliana Ell. and Ev.) (Tables 10, 11 and 12). MNUS 248 is resistant to five eastern North American races of Phytophthora fragariae Hickman (Races A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-6), the fungus that causes red stele root rot (Table 13). It is moderately tolerant, relative to other cultivars tested, of black root rot-causing organisms, Rhizoctonia spp. and Pythium spp. based on field observations in The Horticultural Research Center, Excelsior, MN (Table 11). Plants of MNUS 248 seldom have exhibited symptoms of winter injury in Minnesota trials and have been among the most hardy of varieties and selections tested (as indicated by plant stand, winter stand loss and vigor ratings in Tables 1,2,3 and 4; and winter injury ratings in Table 11). Thus, it is particularly hardy in temperatures to about -40° C., typical of the United States Department of Agriculture Zone Hardiness 3 and 4.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Performance of strawberry cultivars at the University of Minnesota North        Central Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1992-1995..sup.1       Cultivar Mulched    Unmulched                                                                                Mulched                                                                                Unmulched                                ______________________________________                                                Yield (1000 lb/A)                                                                            Berry weight (g)                                                   1992   1993   1992 1993 1992 1993 1992 1993                           ______________________________________                                         Annapolis                                                                                     12.2                                                                             9.1        7.8  16.29                                                                               13.0 13.9 10.9                           Veestar             8.2  6.8                                                                               7.3                                                                            7.3  11.1 6.9  9.1  6.8                            Honeoye        12.0                                                                                11.8                                                                                   12.3                                                                           13.7 16.1 13.2 14.1 10.3                           MNUS 248       17.8                                                                                22.2                                                                                   17.1                                                                           21.5 15.2 13.6 13.7 13.3                           Glooscap       11.0                                                                                11.9                                                                                   8.0                                                                            10.0 13.7 11.6 12.1 12.0                           Kent            21.4                                                                               18.5                                                                                   19.0                                                                           17.9 15.7 13.1 14.2 11.8                           Cavendish                                                                                     15.6                                                                                14.8                                                                                   10.6                                                                           17.2 18.9 14.1 16.8 9.6                            Trumpeter                                                                                     16.5                                                                                14.3                                                                                   12.8                                                                           13.0 13.0 11.0 13.1 10.8                           Northland                                                                                     16.8                                                                                19.9                                                                                   14.3                                                                           20.1 14.3 11.6 13.7 10.5                           MNUS 210       16.0                                                                                13.7                                                                                   17.2                                                                           17.0 21.3 14.8 18.5 14.3                           Blomidon       7.7                                                                                 7.4                                                                                    5.1                                                                            8.5  13.1 10.1 12.5 9.1                            Lateglow       9.8                                                                                 7.3                                                                                    11.4                                                                           9.0  19.2 15.5 16.4 12.5                           Bounty         16.4                                                                                13.9                                                                                   13.8                                                                           20.5 14.8 11.9 12.1 10.8                           LSD 5%         3.9                                                                                 4.3                                                                                    4.9                                                                            5.8  2.9  1.9  2.7  2.0                            ______________________________________                                                        1994                                                                             1995       1994                                                                           1995 1994 1995 1944 1995                           ______________________________________                                         Veestar           9.26.2                                                                                   6.7                                                                            7.9  8.6  6.2  9.6  7.0                            Annapolis                                                                                     5.0                                                                                 8.7                                                                                    4.8                                                                            8.5  13.7 10.7 12.9 9.0                            Honeoye        2.6                                                                                 8.3                                                                                    3.1                                                                            10.0 10.6 8.4  11.5 8.0                            Chambly        1.9                                                                                 7.8                                                                                    1.5                                                                            5.9  10.1 7.8  14.9 8.2                            Earliglow                                                                                     2.2                                                                                 2.7                                                                                    2.0                                                                            3.4  9.5  6.2  11.0 6.9                            MNUS 248       6.1                                                                                 14.1                                                                                   7.5                                                                            11.3 14.9 11.0 12.0 11.3                           Glooscap       8.2                                                                                 11.4                                                                                   9.5                                                                            13.7 12.0 8.5  13.2 8.6                            Kent            5.4                                                                                5.8                                                                                    6.1                                                                            7.0  11.4 8.9  15.1 8.7                            Cavendish                                                                                     5.4                                                                                 5.6                                                                                    5.9                                                                            6.3  14.7 9.2  15.3 12.4                           Jewel           5.9                                                                                7.4                                                                                    6.3                                                                            5.0  10.8 11.3 12.2 11.3                           Seneca         3.2                                                                                 4.9                                                                                    3.6                                                                            2.6  9.8  9.8  12.8 9.0                            Blomidon       3.0                                                                                 2.1                                                                                    4.3                                                                            1.5  7.9  8.2  13.4 7.8                            MNUS 210       9.0                                                                                 5.5                                                                                    7.9                                                                            7.8  13.9 12.1 10.2 11.9                           Lateglow       4.4                                                                                 3.9                                                                                    4.7                                                                            3.9  14.5 9.3  12.3 9.1                            LSD 5%         2.3                                                                                 3.1                                                                                    4.4  1.7.4                                                                               1.9  2.0  2.3                            ______________________________________                                                % Early harvest.sup.2                                                                        Stand (%).sup.3                                                    1992   1993   1992 1993 1992 1993 1992 1993                           ______________________________________                                         Annapolis                                                                                      567    79   76   97   94   97   93                             Veestar         41     74  58                                                                              59   89   74   92   99                             Honeoye         362    54   49   93   90   94   76                             MNUS 248        249    60   36   95   95   95   95                             Glooscap        278    57   50   86   79   84   88                             Kent            2816   46   51   99   98   96   95                             Cavendish                                                                                      271    54   52   92   81   90   85                             Trumpeter                                                                                      218    61   50   96   96   95   98                             Northland                                                                                      255    56   50   95   91   93   91                             MNUS 210        16     16   41   97   71   99   96                             Blomidon        168    36   30   94   75   91   81                             Lateglow        97     30   38   94   89   94   93                             Bounty          31     14   10   97   99   97   91                             LSD 5%          121    17   16   10   26   17   23                             ______________________________________                                                          1995       1994                                                                           1995 1994 1995 1944 1995                           ______________________________________                                         Veestar         70     75                                                                             78   80   88   93   90   95                             Annapolis                                                                                      617    84   76   85   90   85   90                             Honeoye         586    68   67   64   88   61   88                             Chambly         620    75   71   48   87   35   70                             Earliglow                                                                                      539    49   70   74   85   49   85                             MNUS 248        316    42   35   66   90   86   85                             Glooscap        380    32   37   84   80   89   92                             Kent            3931   48   46   86   65   61   48                             Cavendish                                                                                      316    50   40   74   60   80   80                             Jewel           3515   30   51   93   85   84   77                             Seneca          320    42   62   69   67   76   70                             Blomidon        28     21   50   80   57   78   50                             MNUS 210        93     13   16   90   93   100  80                             Lateglow        135    75   25   80   88   75   80                             LSD 5%          184    14   13   20   26   22   29                             ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1991 and 1993 and harvested in the             subsequent two years.                                                          .sup.2 % Early harvest = % of total crop harvested from 7/02/92 to 7/13/9      (full season 7/02/92 to 8/05/92); 7/02/93 to 7/12/93 (full season 7/02/93      to 8/02/93); 6/23/94 to 7/1/94 (full season 6/23/94 to 7/22/94); and           6/26/95 to 6/29/95 (full season 6/26/95 to 7/21/95).                           .sup.3 % Stand was evaluated during June of each year.                   

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Peformance of strawberry cultivars at the West Central Experiment              Station, Morris, Minnesota, in 1992-1995..sup.1                                ______________________________________                                                  Yield (1000 Berry weight                                                                               % Early                                       Cultivar lb/A)       (g)         harvest.sup.2                                 ______________________________________                                                  1992    1993    1992  1993  1992  1993                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar          3.3                                                                            3.7     6.4   8.2   61    65                                  Annapolis                                                                                 6.8   4.7     10.0  10.4  49    46                                  Honeoye    5.5   8.9     15.4  12.5  18    24                                  Redcoat    12.9  9.3     9.5   10.7  26    31                                  MNUS 248   12.4  13.0    10.8  11.7  20    18                                  Glooscap   4.9   6.4     9.4   9.5   30    22                                  Kent        10.5 11.7    12.4  13.9  26    27                                  Cavendish                                                                                 9.0   9.1     12.6  15.9  31    19                                  Jewel       5.5  3.8     10.0  11.2  26    37                                  Trumpeter                                                                                 7.6   9.2     13.4  9.5   5     15                                  MNUS 210   12.0  10.5    17.4  15.0  13    3                                   Blomidon   9.9   7.9     11.1  12.6  3     4                                   Lateglow   12.0  8.0     16.0  11.2  0     1                                   Bounty     6.1   4.7     11.8  8.5   2     5                                   LSD 5%     3.7   3.0     3.5   1.5   12    10                                  ______________________________________                                                    1994  1995    1994  1995  1994  1995                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar     14.5 9.6     6.9   7.4   54    75                                  Earliglow                                                                                 8.2   3.8     6.3   6.3   44    72                                  Annapolis                                                                                11.5   7.8     9.3   9.4   37    61                                  Honeoye    15.1  10.7    10.6  9.3   25    53                                  Chambly    9.6   6.2     8.3   7.1   20    42                                  MNUS 248   16.4  18.2    9.9   9.3   8     28                                  Glooscap   13.9  15.4    10.2  9.1   10    42                                  Kent        17.0 11.7    10.0  9.4   23    29                                  Cavendish                                                                                19.6   15.4    12.5  13.7  18    17                                  Jewel       14.3 11.9    12.3  11.7  4     17                                  Seneca     11.7  10.3    11.7  10.4  12    25                                  Blomidon   6.7   8.3     9.2   10.5  4     6                                   Lateglow   6.1   4.6     7.4   8.5   0     18                                  MNUS 210   5.6   6.3     9.6   8.2   0     18                                  LSD 5%     3.6   4.4     1.6   1.6   11    14                                  ______________________________________                                                                          Winter Stand                                  Cultivar % Stand.sup.3                                                                              Vigor.sup.4 loss.sup.5 (%)                                ______________________________________                                                  1992    1993    1992  1993  1992  1993                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar          80                                                                             73      7.5   7.5   n.a.  -8                                  Annapolis                                                                                 80    73      7.8   7.0   n.a.  -8                                  Honeoye    88    83      8.8   8.8   n.a.  -13                                 Redcoat    88    93      8.8   7.5   n.a.  -5                                  MNUS 248   73    73      7.8   6.2   n.a.  -5                                  Glooscap   70    58      6.8   6.2   n.a.  -15                                 Kent        78   70      8.8   6.8   n.a.  0                                   Cavendish                                                                                 80    75      7.8   7.5   n.a.  -5                                  Jewel       75   63      8.0   7.2   n.a.  -18                                 Trumpeter                                                                                 88    83      8.5   8.2   n.a.  -12                                 MNUS 210   70    68      7.8   7.8   n.a.  -5                                  Blomidon   85    73      8.5   7.5   n.a.  -10                                 Lateglow   88    85      8.5   8.2   n.a.  -5                                  Bounty     83    80      8.8   7.2   n.a.  -15                                 LSD 5%     16    21      1.2   1.6         12                                  ______________________________________                                                    1994  1995    1994  1995  1994  1995                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar     98   88      9.0   8.3   0     5                                   Earliglow                                                                                 85    70      8.3   8.0   -15   0                                   Annapolis                                                                                83     65      8.0   7.5   -10   0                                   Honeoye    88    70      7.8   7.8   0     3                                   Chambly    80    48      7.3   6.3   -13   -8                                  MNUS 248   100   80      8.5   6.8   0     -5                                  Glooscap   85    85      8.0   8.0   -5    5                                   Kent        80   55      7.5   7.3   -8    -3                                  Cavendish                                                                                95     83      8.5   8.3   3     -3                                  Jewel       98   73      9.0   8.3   0     0                                   Seneca     80    63      8.3   8.0   -13   -5                                  Blomidon   93    78      7.8   7.3   -8    -5                                  Lateglow   88    63      7.0   6.8   -13   3                                   MNUS 210   93    25      7.5   6.0   -8    -18                                 LSD 5%     13    23      1.3   2.1   12    8                                   ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1991 and 1993 and harvested for the            subsequent two years.                                                          .sup.2 % Early harvest = % of total crop harvested from 6/15/92 to 6/24/9      (full season 6/15/92 to 7/15/92); 6/21/93 to 6/28/93 (full season 6/21/93      to 7/19/93); 6/08/94 to 6/15/94 (full season 6/08/94 to 7/05/94); and          6/19/95 to 6/23/95 (full season 6/19/95 to 7/06/95.                            .sup.3 % Stand was evaluated during June of each year.                         .sup.4 Vigor was rated on a scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being very vigorous.        .sup.5 Winter stand loss was the difference between % stand in June and %      stand in October of the previous year.                                   

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Performance of strawberry cultivars at the University of Minnesota             Horticultural Research Center, Excelsior, Minnesota in 1992, 1994,              and 1995..sup.1                                                               Cultivar    1992         1994   1995                                           ______________________________________                                                   Yield (1000 lb/A)                                                    Earliglow   n.a.         6.5    9.5                                            Veestar              9.1 10.4   9.9                                            Annapolis            7.1 8.8    10.2                                           Honeoye              12.9                                                                               10.4   9.5                                            Chambly              n.a.                                                                               8.5    13.2                                           Redcoat              8.7 n.a.   n.a.                                           MNUS 248             14.8                                                                               19.4   15.8                                           Glooscap             4.6 13.1   14.0                                           Kent                  8.1                                                                               14.2   10.8                                           Cavendish            5.5 15.4   16.2                                           Jewel                 5.2                                                                               12.7   12.1                                           Seneca               n.a.                                                                               10.7   9.8                                            Startyme             n.a.                                                                               8.6    6.5                                            Blomidon             6.6 7.3    6.7                                            MNUS 210             5.8 11.7   14.7                                           Lateglow             6.5 9.3    9.0                                            Bounty               6.5 n.a.   n.a.                                           LSD 5%               3.3 3.5    2.7                                                      Berry weight (g)                                                     Earliglow   n.a.         9.7    9.1                                            Veestar                7.5                                                                              9.1    8.0                                            Annapolis              17.4                                                                             14.8   8.9                                            Honeoye                14.1                                                                             9.1    7.5                                            Chambly                n.a.                                                                             9.3    7.9                                            Redcoat                11.2                                                                             n.a.   n.a.                                           MNUS 248               15.5                                                                             11.0   9.5                                            Glooscap               10.6                                                                             10.0   7.3                                            Kent                    16.3                                                                            9.6    8.6                                            Cavendish              15.0                                                                             12.2   10.5                                           Jewel                   12.9                                                                            12.8   10.8                                           Seneca                 n.a.                                                                             11.9   9.8                                            Startyme               n.a.                                                                             12.0   11.8                                           Blomidon               11.8                                                                             9.5    10.2                                           MNUS 210               17.5                                                                             14.0   13.2                                           Lateglow               14.4                                                                             11.5   11.2                                           Bounty                 10.0                                                                             n.a.   n.a.                                           LSD 5%                 3.1                                                                              1.3    1.1                                                      % Early harvest.sup.2                                                Earliglow   n.a.         66     55                                             Veestar                58                                                                               61     69                                             Annapolis              94                                                                               57     49                                             Honeoye                64                                                                               51     67                                             Chambly                n.a.                                                                             36     55                                             Redcoat                71                                                                               n.a.   n.a.                                           MNUS 248               57                                                                               14     26                                             Glooscap               60                                                                               15     34                                             Kent                    63                                                                              29     47                                             Cavendish              52                                                                               27     20                                             Jewel                   79                                                                              26     25                                             Seneca                 n.a.                                                                             32     47                                             Startyme               n.a.                                                                             15     24                                             Blomidon               37                                                                               15     22                                             MNUS 210               52                                                                               4      22                                             Lateglow               35                                                                               3      0                                              Bounty                 18                                                                               n.a.   n.a.                                           LSD 5%                 22                                                                               14     12                                                       Stand (%).sup.3                                                      Earliglow   n.a.         65     78                                             Veestar                78                                                                               80     90                                             Annapolis              80                                                                               65     73                                             Honeoye                83                                                                               65     65                                             Chambly                n.a.                                                                             63     73                                             Redcoat                75                                                                               n.a.   n.a.                                           MNUS 248               70                                                                               85     80                                             Glooscap               58                                                                               70     85                                             Kent                    65                                                                              68     73                                             Cavendish              63                                                                               55     75                                             Jewel                   58                                                                              68     73                                             Seneca                 n.a.                                                                             70     65                                             Startyme               n.a.                                                                             60     70                                             Blomidon               68                                                                               60     68                                             MNUS 210               68                                                                               68     83                                             Lateglow               75                                                                               70     83                                             Bounty                 75                                                                               n.a.   n.a.                                           LSD 5%                 18                                                                               17.86  11.21                                                    Vigor.sup.4                                                          Earliglow   n.a.         7.5    8.8                                            Veestar                7.0                                                                              7.3    8.3                                            Annapolis              8.0                                                                              6.8    7.3                                            Honeoye                8.3                                                                              6.5    5.8                                            Chambly                n.a.                                                                             7.3    7.5                                            Redcoat                8.0                                                                              n.a.   n.a.                                           MNUS 248               6.0                                                                              7.3    6.5                                            Glooscap               6.5                                                                              7.3    7.3                                            Kent                    8.0                                                                             6.3    7.0                                            Cavendish              7.0                                                                              7.0    8.0                                            Jewel                   6.8                                                                             8.0    8.0                                            Seneca                 n.a.                                                                             6.8    7.5                                            Startyme               n.a.                                                                             7.0    7.5                                            Blomidon               7.3                                                                              6.3    6.8                                            MNUS 210               7.5                                                                              7.0    8.0                                            Lateglow               7.8                                                                              7.0    8.0                                            Bounty                 7.8                                                                              n.a.   n.a.                                           LSD 5%                 1.1                                                                              1.1    1.0                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1991 and 1993 and harvested in the             subsequent one or two years, respectively.                                     .sup.2 % Early harvest = % of total crop harvested from 6/11/92 to 6/16/9      (full season 6/11/92 to 7/02/92); 6/14/94 to 6/17/94 (full season 6/14/94      to 7/05/94) and 6/16/95 to 6/23/95 (full season 6/16/95 to 7/06/95).           .sup.3 % Stand was evaluated during June of each year.                         .sup.4 Vigor was rated on a scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being very vigorous.  

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Performance of strawberry cultivars in Minnesota in 1996..sup.1                                   Gr.                                                                  Gr.       Rapids                                                               Rapids    Un-                                                                  Mulched   mulched   Morris  Excelsior                                 Cultivar 1996      1996      1996    1996                                      ______________________________________                                                Yield (1000 lb/A)                                                       Annapolis                                                                               4.2       4.8       9.7     5.7                                       Honeoye     9.2    11.2      10.9    6.0                                       MNUS 248    19.9   16.8      20.6    12.5                                      Glooscap    11.1   13.9      8.5     7.6                                       Kent         13.7  14.7      13.2    6.7                                       Cavendish                                                                                  10.1   12.4      12.7    8.2                                       Jewel        6.4   10.2      14.9    5.8                                       Mira         8.6   9.2       14.5    9.7                                       Startyme    4.1    3.9       6.1     2.9                                       MNUS 210    10.7   10.6      15.8    9.6                                       Lateglow    5.5    7.1       11.0    6.3                                       LSD 5%      3.6    2.7       3.7     2.3                                              Berry weight (g)                                                        Annapolis                                                                               13.6      13.6      10.2    12.2                                      Honeoye      12.9  11.8      9.5     10.7                                      MNUS 248     15.4  14.9      9.8     10.9                                      Glooscap     13.3  12.9      8.2     9.8                                       Kent          14.2 14.5      8.9     9.9                                       Cavendish                                                                                   17.0  16.2      11.9    11.5                                      Jewel         13.8 13.2      10.5    11.2                                      Mira          13.6 13.9      9.4     10.6                                      Startyme     12.8  12.4      8.6     8.0                                       MNUS 210     18.5  18.2      11.8    12.9                                      Lateglow     13.5  14.1      8.1     10.1                                      LSD 5%       1.4   1.4       1.0     1.4                                              % Early harvest.sup.2                                                   Annapolis                                                                               41        62        74      85                                        Honeoye     35     47        69      81                                        MNUS 248    21     20        48      35                                        Glooscap    15     17        70      56                                        Kent         23    23        44      57                                        Cavendish                                                                                  19     20        36      40                                        Jewel        11    21        32      49                                        Mira         14    20        40      45                                        Startyme    8      15        44      44                                        MNUS 210    1      5         34      23                                        Lateglow    1      5         26      30                                        LSD 5%      8      9         12      14                                               Stand (%).sup.3                                                         Annapolis                                                                               73        79        80      63                                        Honeoye    90      93        75      65                                        MNUS 248   91      88        83      73                                        Glooscap   89      90        63      70                                        Kent        91     93        73      53                                        Cavendish                                                                                 86      91        73      70                                        Jewel       90     96        85      65                                        Mira        94     92        80      70                                        Startyme   76      77        62      68                                        MNUS 210   95      86        80      80                                        Lateglow   88      86        83      65                                        LSD 5%     14      11        12      11                                               Vigor.sup.4                                                             Annapolis                                                                               8.8       9.0       6.3     7.3                                       Honeoye     9.0    9.0       7.3     7.3                                       MNUS 248    8.5    8.7       5.8     6.3                                       Glooscap    9.0    8.0       6.0     7.8                                       Kent         8.9   8.9       5.8     6.8                                       Cavendish                                                                                  8.5    8.7       6.8     7.3                                       Jewel        9.0   9.0       8.3     7.5                                       Mira         8.9   9.0       7.0     8.3                                       Startyme    9.0    6.8       6.7     6.3                                       MNUS 210    9.0    9.0       7.3     8.5                                       Lateglow    8.0    8.9       7.5     7.0                                       LSD 5%      0.4    0.4       1.0     1.0                                              Winter stand loss (%)                                                   Annapolis            -3        -8                                              Honeoye                 -10    -3                                              MNUS 248                -8     -3                                              Glooscap                -10    0                                               Kent                     -10   -13                                             Cavendish               -8     -5                                              Jewel                    -10   -8                                              Mira                     -10   -8                                              Startyme                -14    -15                                             MNUS 210                -8     3                                               Lateglow                -3      -10                                            LSD 5%                  9      13                                              ______________________________________                                           .sup.1 Plantings established in 1995.                                         .sup.2 % Early harvest = % of total crop harvested from 6/28 to 7/05 (ful      season to 7/26/96) at Grand Rapids; from 6/21 to 7/1 (full season to           7/17/96) at Morris and from 6/28/96 to 7/1 (full season to 7/16/96) at         Excelsior.                                                                     .sup.3 % Stand was evaluated during June of each year.                         .sup.4 Vigor rated from 1 (very low) to 9 (very high).                         .sup.5 Winter stand loss was the difference between % stand in June and %      stand in October of the previous year.                                   

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Fruit quality ratings of strawberry cultivars at the North Central             Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, Minnesota in trials from                     1992-1995..sup.1                                                               ______________________________________                                         Cultivar Appearance.sup.2                                                                           Skin color.sup.2                                                                           Flesh color.sup.2                             ______________________________________                                                  1992    1993    1992  1993  1992  1993                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar           5.3.5   7.5    6.3    8.0                                                                                8.0                                Annapolis                                                                                    7.5                                                                                7.8     8.0   8.0    8.0  7.7                                Honeoye       7.0                                                                                7.7     7.0   8.0    7.5  8.0                                MNUS 248      7.5                                                                                8.0     7.5   8.2    8.0  8.3                                Glooscap      8.0                                                                                8.3     8.5   8.5    8.5  8.3                                Kent           8.0                                                                               8.0     8.0   8.2    8.0  8.0                                Cavendish                                                                                    7.5                                                                                7.7     8.0   8.0    8.0  7.8                                Northland                                                                                    7.0                                                                                7.7     7.0   7.7    8.0  8.3                                Trumpeter                                                                                    7.5                                                                                7.7     8.0   8.0    8.5  8.3                                Blomidon      7.5                                                                                7.3     8.0   7.3    8.5  7.8                                MNUS 210      7.5                                                                                7.7     7.0   7.7    8.0  7.7                                Lateglow      8.0                                                                                7.7     7.5   7.5    7.0  8.0                                Bounty        7.0                                                                                8.0     6.5   8.2    8.0  8.2                                ______________________________________                                                       1994                                                                              1995    1994  1995    1994                                                                               1995                                ______________________________________                                         Earliglow                                                                                    7.0                                                                                7.0     8.0   7.0    8.0  8.0                                Veestar       6.5                                                                                6.0     6.5   7.8    7.5  7.3                                Annapolis                                                                                    7.0                                                                                6.5     6.0   6.5    7.0  7.5                                Honeoye       8.0                                                                                7.5     8.0   8.0    8.0  8.0                                Chambly       8.0                                                                                6.5     8.0   7.0    8.0  7.5                                MNUS 248      8.0                                                                                8.0     8.0   8.0    8.0  8.3                                Glooscap      8.0                                                                                7.8     8.0   8.0    8.5  8.5                                Kent           8.0                                                                               6.7     8.0   7.3    8.0  6.3                                Cavendish                                                                                    7.5                                                                                6.0     8.5   7.5    8.0  8.5                                Jewel          8.0                                                                               7.3     8.0   7.7    8.0  7.7                                Seneca        6.0                                                                                7.0     7.5   7.5    8.0  7.5                                MNUS 210      6.5                                                                                7.0     7.0   7.0    7.0  7.0                                Blomidon      7.5                                                                                5.5     8.5   6.5    8.0  8.0                                Lateglow      8.0                                                                                7.0     6.5   7.0    8.0  6.7                                ______________________________________                                                                          Overall fruit                                 Cultivar Firmness.sup.2                                                                             Flavor.sup.2                                                                               quality.sup.2                                 ______________________________________                                                  1992    1993    1992  1993  1992  1993                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar          6.0                                                                            5.7     6.5   5.7   6.0   5.3                                 Annapolis                                                                                 7.0   7.5     7.5   7.0   7.5   6.2                                 Honeoye    6.5   6.7     6.5   6.0   7.0   6.8                                 MNUS 248   7.5   7.3     8.0   7.0   7.5   8.0                                 Glooscap   7.0   6.8     7.0   7.5   7.5   7.7                                 Kent        6.5  7.2     7.0   6.7   8.0   8.2                                 Cavendish                                                                                 7.0   7.5     7.5   7.0   8.0   8.0                                 Northland                                                                                 5.0   5.3     6.5   6.3   7.0   6.7                                 Trumpeter                                                                                 6.0   5.3     7.0   5.7   7.0   6.3                                 Blomidon   8.0   6.3     6.5   6.3   6.5   6.5                                 MNUS 210   8.0   7.7     7.5   7.3   7.5   7.5                                 Lateglow   8.0   7.5     7.5   7.5   8.0   7.7                                 Bounty     6.0   6.2     7.0   6.7   6.5   7.5                                 ______________________________________                                                    1994  1995    1994  1995  1994  1995                                ______________________________________                                         Earliglow                                                                                 7.0   7.5     7.5   6.5   7.0   6.5                                 Veestar    5.5   6.0     6.0   6.0   6.0   6.0                                 Annapolis                                                                                 7.0   6.5     7.0   7.0   7.0   6.5                                 Honeoye    6.5   6.7     7.0   6.8   7.0   7.0                                 Chambly    7.0   7.0     6.5   5.5   6.5   6.0                                 MNUS 248   7.5   7.3     7.0   7.0   7.5   7.7                                 Glooscap   7.0   7.0     6.5   7.5   8.0   8.0                                 Kent        6.5  6.7     6.0   6.7   7.5   6.7                                 Cavendish                                                                                 7.5   6.3     7.5   8.0   8.0   7.0                                 Jewel       7.0  7.0     7.5   7.0   7.5   6.7                                 Seneca     7.5   8.0     6.5   6.5   6.5   6.5                                 MNUS 210   7.0   7.5     6.0   7.5   --    8.0                                 Blomidon   7.0   8.0     5.0   6.5   --    5.5                                 Lateglow   7.0   7.0     7.0   7.0   8.0   7.0                                 ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings were established in 1991 and 1993 and evaluated for the       subsequent two years.                                                          .sup.2 Appearance, Firmness, Skin toughness, Flavor, and Overall fruit         quality are rated on a scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being best.                

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Fruit quality of strawberry                                                    selections at Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1996..sup.1,2                                 Sym-    Appear- Skin Flesh                                                                               Firm-      Overall                           Selection                                                                              metry   ance    color                                                                               color                                                                               ness Flavor                                                                               rating.sup.3                      ______________________________________                                         Annapolis                                                                              7.0     7.3     7.0  8.0  7.5  7.3   3.0                               Honeoye    7.5  7.8     8.0  8.5  7.0  6.5   3.0                               MNUS 248                                                                                  7.5  8.0     8.0  8.5  7.0  7.8   3.5                               Glooscap                                                                                  7.5  8.0     8.0  8.5  7.0  7.0   3.3                               Kent        7.5 7.5     8.0  7.5  7.5  7.3   3.3                               Cavendish                                                                                 7.5  7.0     6.5  8.5  7.5  8.0   2.8                               Jewel       7.5 8.0     8.0  8.5  7.0  7.5   3.5                               Mira        6.5 7.0     7.5  6.0  7.0  6.5   2.8                               Startyme                                                                                  7.0  6.0     7.0  6.0  8.0  7.0   2.0                               MNUS 210                                                                                  7.0  7.5     8.0  7.5  7.5  7.5   3.3                               Lateglow                                                                                  8.0  8.0     8.0  7.5  7.5  7.5   3.5                               ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Average of fruit ratings from 6/10/96 and 6/12/96.                      .sup.2 All ratings except overall quality are on a 1 to 9 scale with 9         being best.                                                                    .sup.3 Overall quality is rated on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being best.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Fruit quality ratings of strawberry cultivars at the West Central              Experiment Station, Morris, Minnesota in 1992-1995..sup.1                      ______________________________________                                                                          Skin                                          Cultivar Appearance.sup.2                                                                           Firmness.sup.2                                                                             toughness.sup.2                               ______________________________________                                                  1992    1993    1992  1993  1992  1993                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar     7.0  7.0     6.0   6.0   7.0   6.0                                 Annapolis                                                                                  8.0  7.0     8.0   8.0   8.0   7.0                                 Honeoye     7.0  8.0     7.0   7.0   8.0   6.0                                 Redcoat     6.0  7.0     6.0   6.0   7.0   6.0                                 MNUS 248    7.5  7.0     7.0   7.0   6.0   7.0                                 Glooscap    8.0  8.0     7.0   7.0   7.0   6.0                                 Kent         7.0 8.0     7.0   7.0   6.0   7.0                                 Cavendish                                                                                  6.0  7.0     8.0   8.0   6.0   6.0                                 Jewel        n.a.                                                                               7.0     n.a.  7.0   n.a.  8.0                                 Trumpeter                                                                                  6.0  7.0     6.0   6.0   5.0   5.0                                 MNUS 210    8.0  8.0     9.0   8.0   7.0   8.0                                 Blomidon    8.0  9.0     7.0   8.0   7.0   8.0                                 Bounty      7.0  7.0     6.0   7.0   7.0   7.0                                 Lateglow    8.0  8.0     8.0   7.0   6.0   7.0                                 ______________________________________                                                      1994                                                                               1995    1994  1995  1994  1995                                ______________________________________                                         Veestar     6.5  5.0     6.0   5.0   5.0   5.0                                 Earliglow                                                                                  6.5  7.0     7.0   7.5   6.0   7.0                                 Annapolis                                                                                  8.0  7.0     7.0   8.0   7.0   7.0                                 Honeoye     6.5  6.0     6.0   7.0   6.0   6.0                                 Chambly     7.0  6.0     7.0   7.0   7.0   8.0                                 MNUS 248    8.0  7.0     7.0   7.5   5.0   7.0                                 Glooscap    7.5  6.0     7.0   7.0   6.0   7.0                                 Kent         7.5 7.0     7.0   7.0   6.0   7.0                                 Cavendish                                                                                  7.5  6.5     7.0   7.5   7.0   7.5                                 Jewel        8.0 8.0     7.0   8.0   7.0   8.0                                 Seneca      8.0  8.0     8.0   8.0   7.0   7.0                                 Blomidon    7.5  8.0     8.0   7.5   8.0   7.0                                 Lateglow    7.0  7.0     6.0   7.0   6.0   7.5                                 MNUS 210    7.0  7.5     8.0   8.0   8.0   8.0                                 ______________________________________                                                                      Overall fruit                                                Cultivar                                                                             Flavor.sup.2                                                                               quality.sup.3                                     ______________________________________                                                          1992    1993    1992  1993                                    ______________________________________                                                 Veestar     7.0  7.0     2.0   2.0                                             Annapolis                                                                                  7.0  7.5     3.0   3.5                                             Honeoye     6.0  6.0     2.5   3.0                                             Redcoat     7.0  6.0     2.0   2.5                                             MNUS 248    7.0  6.0     2.0   2.5                                             Glooscap    7.0  7.0     2.5   2.5                                             Kent         6.0 6.0     2.0   3.5                                             Cavendish                                                                                  7.0  7.0     3.0   2.0                                             Jewel        n.a.                                                                               8.0     n.a.  3.0                                             Trumpeter                                                                                  7.0  6.0     2.0   2.0                                             MNUS 210    7.0  8.0     3.5   4.0                                             Blomidon    7.0  7.0     3.0   4.0                                             Bounty      8.0  7.0     2.5   2.5                                             Lateglow    7.0  7.5     3.0   3.5                                     ______________________________________                                                              1994                                                                               1995    1994  1995                                    ______________________________________                                                 Veestar     7.0  8.0     2.0   2.0                                             Earliglow                                                                                  6.0  8.0     2.0   3.0                                             Annapolis                                                                                  7.0  7.5     3.5   3.0                                             Honeoye     7.0  7.0     2.0   2.0                                             Chambly     6.0  6.5     2.5   2.5                                             MNUS 248    7.0  7.0     2.5   3.0                                             Glooscap    7.0  7.0     3.0   2.5                                             Kent         7.0 3.5     3.0   2.5                                             Cavendish                                                                                  7.5  7.0     3.5   3.0                                             Jewel        6.5 7.5     3.0    3.5                                            Seneca      7.5  7.0     3.5   3.5                                             Blomidon    7.5  7.0     3.5   3.0                                             Lateglow    7.0  7.0     2.5   2.5                                             MNUS 210    7.0  8.0     2.5   3.5                                     ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1991 and 1993, and evaluated in the            subsequent two years.                                                          .sup.2 Appearance, Firmness, Skin toughness, and Flavor are rated on a         scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being best.                                             .sup.3 Overall fruit quality is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being        best.                                                                    

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Fruit quality ratings of strawberry cultivars at the University of             Minnesota Horticultural Research Center, Excelsior, Minnesota in               1992 and 1994..sup.1                                                           ______________________________________                                                                      Skin                                                     Appearance.sup.2                                                                         Firmness.sup.2                                                                             toughness.sup.2                                   Cultivar 1992    1994    1992  1994  1992  1994                                ______________________________________                                         Earliglow                                                                                     n.a.                                                                             8.0     n.a.  7.0   n.a.  7.0                                 Veestar    6.5   7.0     4     6.0   5     6.0                                 Annapolis                                                                                 9     8.0     8     7.0   7     8.0                                 Redcoat    8     n.a.    6     n.a.  6     n.a.                                Honeoye    8     7.0     6     7.0   6     6.0                                 Chambly    n.a.  7.0     n.a.  7.0   n.a.  7.0                                 MNUS 248   7     8.0     7     7.0   6     6.0                                 Glooscap   7.5   6.0     6     7.0   6     7.0                                 Kent        8.5  8.0     8     7.0   7     6.0                                 Cavendish                                                                                 7.5   8.0     8     7.0   8     7.0                                 Jewel       9    8.0     8     7.0   7     8.0                                 Seneca     n.a.  8.0     n.a.  8.0   n.a.  7.0                                 MNUS 210   7     8.0     8     8.0   8     8.0                                 Blomidon   8.5   8.0     8     7.0   8     7.0                                 Lateglow   7.5   6.0     7     8.0   8     7.0                                 Bounty     6.5   n.a.    6     n.a.  5     n.a.                                Startyme   n.a.  7.0     n.a.  8.0   n.a.  8.0                                 ______________________________________                                                                  Overall fruit                                                        Flavor.sup.2                                                                             quality.sup.3                                                 Cultivar 1992    1994    1992  1994                                    ______________________________________                                                 Earliglow                                                                                     n.a.                                                                             8.0     n.a.  3.0                                             Veestar    7     7.0     1.0   2.0                                             Annapolis                                                                                 7     7.0     4.0   3.5                                             Redcoat    6     n.a.    2.0   n.a.                                            Honeoye    7     7.0     3.0   2.5                                             Chambly    n.a.  7.0     n.a.  2.5                                             MNUS 248   8     7.0     3.0   2.5                                             Glooscap   7     7.0     3.0   3.0                                             Kent        7    7.0     4.0   3.0                                             Cavendish                                                                                 8     7.0     4.0   3.0                                             Jewel       7    7.0     4.0   4.0                                             Seneca     n.a.  7.0     n.a.  3.0                                             MNUS 210   7     8.0     3.0   3.0                                             Blomidon   7     7.0     4.0   3.0                                             Lateglow   8     7.0     4.0   2.5                                             Bounty     7     n.a.    2.0   n.a.                                            Startyme   n.a.  9.0     n.a.  3.5                                     ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1991 and 1993 were evaluated in 1992 and       1994, respectively.                                                            .sup.2 Appearance, Firmness, Skin toughness, and Flavor are rated on a         scale of 1 to 9 with 9 being best.                                             .sup.3 Overall fruit quality is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being        best.                                                                    

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Fruit quality of strawberry selections at Morris and Excelsior,                Minnesota in 1996..sup.1,2                                                     ______________________________________                                                Appearance                                                                               Firmness    Skin toughness                                                     Ex-           Ex-         Ex-                                 Cultivar Morris  celsior Morris                                                                               celsior                                                                              Morris                                                                               celsior                             ______________________________________                                         Annapolis                                                                                7.3    7.5     7.5   8.0   7.5   7.0                                 Honeoye     7.0  7.5     7.0   7.0   6.5   7.0                                 MNUS 248   8.0   8.0     8.0   8.0   6.5   7.0                                 Glooscap   7.3   7.0     7.0   7.0   8.0   8.0                                 Kent          8.0                                                                               7.5     7.0   8.0   6.5   6.0                                 Cavendish                                                                                6.5    7.5     8.0   8.0   6.5   8.0                                 Jewel         7.5                                                                               7.0     7.0   8.0   7.0   7.0                                 Mira          7.5                                                                               9.0     7.0   7.0   7.5   8.0                                 Startyme   7.0   6.0     8.0   9.0   7.0   9.0                                 MNUS 210   7.5   7.0     8.0   8.0   6.5   8.0                                 Lateglow   7.8   8.0     7.0   7.0   8.0   7.0                                 ______________________________________                                                     Flavor     Overall fruit quality.sup.3                                           Morris  Excelsior                                                                               Morris Excelsior                                ______________________________________                                         Annapolis      7.0    6.5      3.5    3.0                                      Honeoye          6.0  7.0      2.3    3.0                                      MNUS 248        7.3   7.0      3.5    3.5                                      Glooscap        7.0   6.0      3.0    2.5                                      Kent               6.5                                                                               7.0      3.0    3.0                                      Cavendish      6.3    7.0      2.5    3.0                                      Jewel              7.0                                                                               8.0      3.3    3.0                                      Mira               6.0                                                                               6.0      3.5    3.0                                      Startyme              6.0             2.5                                      MNUS 210        8.0   8.0      3.5    3.0                                      Lateglow        7.0   7.5      3.0    3.0                                      ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1995.                                          .sup.2 All ratings except overall quality are on a 1 to 9 scale with 9         being best.                                                                    .sup.3 Overall quality is rated on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being best.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Disease responses of strawberry cultivars at the Univ. of  Minnesota           North Central Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, Minnesota                       in 1992 and 1993..sup.1                                                       Cultivar   Leaf spot   Powdery mildew                                          ______________________________________                                                    1992   1993       1992  1993                                        ______________________________________                                         Veestar            6.0        4.56.2                                                                               4.5                                        Annapolis          6.20       4.7   4.7                                        Honeoye            5.72       5.2   5.0                                        MNUS 248           5.07       5.0   5.5                                        Glooscap           6.50       6.0   5.2                                        Kent               5.0.5      7.0   6.2                                        Cavendish          6.00       4.5   4.7                                        Northland          5.52       3.7   3.7                                        Trumpeter          6.02       3.7   3.7                                        MNUS 210           6.20       6.5   6.2                                        Blomidon           6.20       6.5   5.7                                        Lateglow           3.75       4.2   3.5                                        Bounty             5.25       6.2   6.2                                        LSD 5%             0.91       0.7   0.8                                        ______________________________________                                                           199594     1994  1995                                        ______________________________________                                         Earliglow          7.35       5.8   5.7                                        Veestar            6.33       5.8   6.3                                        Annapolis          7.05       6.0   6.0                                        Honeoye            5.73       5.8   6.3                                        Chambly            6.75       5.3   5.0                                        MNUS 248           6.05       6.5   7.0                                        Glooscap           5.08       7.5   7.0                                        Kent               5.0.5      7.8   7.0                                        Cavendish          7.03       5.8   5.7                                        Jewel              6.7.8      7.8   7.7                                        Seneca             5.70       7.8   7.7                                        Blomidon           7.75       7.0   8.0                                        Lateglow           3.73       5.3   4.7                                        MNUS 210           7.08       7.5   7.7                                        LSD 5%             1.29       0.8   0.7                                        ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Leaf spot and powdery mildew ratings are on a scale from 1 = very       severe infection to 9 = no infection.                                    

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Disease responses of strawberry cultivars at the University of Minn-           esota Horticultural Research Center, Excelsior, Minnesota                       in 1994 and 1995..sup.1,2                                                              Winter                                                                              Black                Powdery                                            injury root rot Leaf scorch mildew                                      Cultivar 1994     1995     1994  1995  1995                                    ______________________________________                                         Earliglow                                                                               7.3      8.5      9.0   8.0   6.0                                     Veestar    7.3    8.3       8.0  8.3    7.0                                    Annapolis                                                                                 7.3    6.5       8.0  8.5    7.3                                    Honeoye    7.0    4.3       7.0  5.8    8.0                                    Chambly    7.5    6.5       9.0  8.0    6.5                                    MNUS 248   8.3    5.5       7.0  7.3    7.3                                    Glooscap   7.8    7.0       8.0  7.8    7.0                                    Kent        7.0   5.3       5.0  5.5    7.8                                    Cavendish                                                                                 7.0    7.5       8.0  8.5    7.3                                    Jewel       6.5   6.8       8.0  7.3    7.5                                    Startyme   7.0    6.5       6.0  7.0    7.0                                    Seneca     6.8    5.8       8.0  6.5    8.0                                    MNUS 210   6.5    7.5       8.0  7.3    7.0                                    Blomidon   7.3    5.5       8.0  7.5    8.0                                    Lateglow   7.3    7.5       7.0  6.3    6.0                                    LSD 5%     0.7    1.7       n.a. 0.8    0.7                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Planting established in 1993.                                           .sup.2 Winter injury, Black root rot, Leaf scorch, and Powdery mildew wer      rated on a scale from 1 = very severe infection to 9 = no infection.     

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         Disease reactions of strawberry selections in Minnesota in                     1995-1996..sup.1,2                                                             Grand Rapids           Morris   Excelsior                                      Leaf spot      Powdery Mildew                                                                             Iron     Leaf                                               Fall   Summer  Fall  Summer                                                                               chlorosis                                                                             Scorch                               Cultivar                                                                               1995   1996    1995  1996  1996   1996                                 ______________________________________                                         Annapolis                                                                              7.8    7.8     5.8   6.0   7.3    7.8                                  Honeoye   8.0      6.3      5.8                                                                                  7.0                                                                                  6.8                                                                                   7.3                             MNUS 248                                                                                 7.8      7.0      6.5                                                                                  7.0                                                                                  4.5                                                                                   6.3                             Glooscap                                                                                 8.0      7.3      6.3                                                                                  7.3                                                                                  6.5                                                                                   7.5                             Kent       7.5     5.0      7.0                                                                                  7.0                                                                                  6.5                                                                                   4.5                             Cavendish                                                                                7.8      6.8      5.5                                                                                  6.0                                                                                  7.0                                                                                   7.0                             Jewel      8.0     7.0      6.0                                                                                  7.0                                                                                  7.8                                                                                   7.0                             Mira       7.8     6.0      5.8                                                                                  6.8                                                                                  6.8                                                                                   7.5                             Startyme                                                                                 7.7      5.7      6.0                                                                                  7.7                                                                                  5.3                                                                                   5.8                             MNUS 210                                                                                 8.0      7.8      7.0                                                                                  7.0                                                                                  7.8                                                                                   8.0                             Lateglow                                                                                 7.5      4.8      5.3                                                                                  5.8                                                                                  7.8                                                                                   7.3                             LSD 5%    ns       0.6      0.7                                                                                  0.5                                                                                  0.9                                                                                   0.9                             ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Plantings established in 1995.                                          .sup.2 Disease reactions reated on a scale from 1 (severe symptoms) to 9       (no symptoms).                                                           

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Responses of strawbery genotypes to red stele root rot screening with          mix                                                                            of Phytophthora fragariae races A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-6 by root-dip        inoculation at Beltsville, Maryland, 1993-94..sup.1                                               Replication                                                                    mean root scores.sup.2                                      Genotype             Range   Mean                                              ______________________________________                                         MNUS 248             8.0-9.0 8.5                                               Yaquina B (resistant standard)                                                                      8.0-8.5 8.2                                               Del Norte (intermediate standard)                                                                   8.0-8.5 8.2                                               Blakemore (susceptible standard)                                                                    4.5-5.0 4.7                                               ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 From Galletta, Maas, and Enns, Strawberry cultivar and selection        red stele screening at USDABeltsville in 1993-1994. Advances in Strawberr      Research 13:40-43 (1994).                                                      .sup.2 Three replications with twoplant plots were scored for root injury      with 1-3 being very susceptible, 4-5 being suceptible, 6-7 being tolerant      and 8-9 being resistant. Blakemore was significantly more susceptible tha      the other varieties at P = 0.05 using Duncan's Multiple Range Test for         mean separation.                                                          

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by the combined characteristics of its mid-season of fruit ripening, high productivity or yield, excellent survival in cold temperatures and resistance 